Santo Ripa

Head Coach

A Virginia Beach native, born and raised, Ripa attended Kingston, Lynnhaven, and First Colonial High School, graduating in 2010 after earning All-Region and All-State honors. He played for VA Rush from age 4 to 18, including time with the Development Academy under Jay Hoffman on a team ranked 16th in the nation, before playing collegiately for Virginia Military Institute Men's Soccer from 2010 to 2014. His first involvement with Virginia Beach City Public Schools came coaching at Kempsville High School under Leroi Wilson, before he moved into coaching at the club level with BeachFC, as well as joining VA Rush and the MLS Next Program. He then served as JV/Assistant Coach at Frank W. Cox High School under Eric Blackmore through the 2022 season, when the team won the VHSL 5A Region and State Championship. He was named Head Coach following that title run, and under his leadership Cox was Region Champion and State Runner-Up in 2023 and claimed the program's 5th State Title in 2024. Yet above every title and championship, he considers his greatest success in life to be his daughter, Rory.

Caeman Bay

Assistant Coach

William Voigt

Assistant Coach

Voigts's soccer career began at the youth level with DC United Youth Academy, where he helped lead the team to two National Runner-Up finishes at the US Club Championships and two Top 4 National Rankings. He went on to play collegiately for William & Mary Men's Soccer, contributing to two CAA Conference Tournament appearances, before advancing into professional soccer with the DC United U-23s (MLS) and the Richmond Kickers (USL). Building on that foundation, he transitioned into coaching and development, now serving as Director of Coaching (DOC) for VA Rush's MLS Next program, and holds a US Club B License.

Benjamin Speckhart

Assistant Coach

A Virginia Beach native, born and raised, Speckhart grew up attending All Saints, John B. Dey, and Great Neck before graduating from Cox High School, where he was a standout on the varsity soccer team from 1992 to 1995, earning All-District, All-Tidewater, All-Region, and All-State honors; he also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout during these formative years. He went on to play collegiately for Longwood Men's Soccer and competed professionally with the Wilmington Hammerheads in 2001, before earning a Master's degree in Marine Science from UNCW and beginning his career as a Harbor Pilot with the Virginia Pilot Association in 2006, a role he continues today. Since 2011, he has given back to the community that shaped him by volunteering as a coach for the Cox High School Boys Soccer program. Yet above every honor and achievement, he considers his greatest accomplishment to be his daughter, Izzy.